Summary Misbah was ruled out due to injury.
(Dunya News) – Islamabad United 155-2 (Ronchi 94, Usman 1-44) beat Karachi Kings 154-4 (Ingram 68, Sami 2-20) by eight wickets in the first playoff of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2018 here at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
SIX! 4.4 Usman Khan to Luke Ronchi
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf#IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/xbjbV4azHq
It was absolute carnage from the very beginning. Ronchi was merciless, relentless and valiant as he smashed record of fastest fifty in history of PSL. It took the big hitter only 19 balls to cruise towards fifty. He unleashed a storm that Kings were unable to halt. Relying on Ronchi’s blitz, United made mammoth 75 runs in the power-play while adding 91 runs for the first wicket with Farhan.
OUT! 6.6 Tymal Mills to Sahibzada Farhan
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf#IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/YWV410yShv
Scoring at unbelievable rate of 12.4/over, United cruised to 124-1 in first ten overs.
100 comes up for Islamabad United!
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf#IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/nlhFGmn43I
It took Islamabad United just 12.3 overs to win the match. Ronchi made 94 runs and remained not out.
Samit Patel scores the match-winning four for Islamabad United!
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf#IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/JVkGP1QEPQ
United will now travel to Karachi for final match. They will face winner of the third playoff.
Kings innings
In the first playoff of the flagship Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2018, Karachi Kings won the toss and opted to bat first against Karachi Kings here at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
In the first three overs of their innings, Kings opted a cautious approach as they managed to scored just 15 runs without any loss.
As pressure mounted, Manzoor tried to hit big but Sami took a stunner to dismiss former on just six runs.
OUT! 3.4 Mohammad Sami to Khurram Manzoor
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf#IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/SZCWYH93RT
In the same over, Sami picked up important wicket of inform Babar Azam to dent the momentum earlier.
OUT! 3.6 Mohammad Sami to Babar Azam
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf#IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/YCOV4vTVQ0
Kings were 21-2 after five overs. Interim skipper Morgan tried to revive the innings but he fell prey to soft dismissal. He scored 21 runs.
OUT! 8.1 Amad Butt to Eoin Morgan
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf#IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/ugDnVXq8I8
After early wobble, Kings’ batsmen extended the cautious approach to avoid a complete wobble while United bowlers kept things under the control. Denly and Ingram added 76 useful runs for fourth wicket partnership but just when things started to look good for Kings, Denly departed in bizarre fashion. He made 45 runs.
OUT! 17.4 Faheem Ashraf to Joe Denly
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf#IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/tcAjb1hgO7
SIX! 4.4 Usman Khan to Luke Ronchi
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf#IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/xbjbV4azHq
Ingram, in the end of innings, unleashed some brutal hitting to lift Kings to a respectable totals. He made 68 runs and remained not out.
SIX! 19.2 Faheem Ashraf to Colin Ingram
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf#IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/ddYMtuYYSs
Shahid Afridi participated for Kings whereas Islamabad United are playing without their Captain (Misbah) and Vice-Captain (Rumman). In absence of Misbah, Duminy has been appointed as skipper.
In their previous five completed encounters, stats favour Karachi Kings against Islamabad United as former have won 4 while latter have managed to secure victory only in one.
Line-ups
Karachi Kings: Khurram Manzoor, Joe Denly, Babar Azam, Eoin Morgan (capt), Colin Ingram, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Irfan Jnr, Mohammad Amir, Usman Khan, Tymal Mills
Islamabad United: JP Duminy (capt), Alex Hales, Hussain Talat, Luke Ronchi (wk), Asif Ali, Sahibzada Farhan, Samit Patel, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Amad Butt, Mohammad Sami
